A resounding success

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, met with Egils Levits, President of Latvia at the country’s Pavilion at Expo 2020.

Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, was also present at the meeting.

While touring the Pavilion of Latvia, Sheikh Mohammed and the Latvian President discussed ties between the two countries and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, especially in the sectors of investment, economy and trade for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.

The meeting discussed how Expo 2020 Dubai can help enhance international cooperation through the platform it provides nations to share innovations that can potentially shape the world’s future. The two leaders discussed various ways in which the mega global event that has seen record participation of 192 nations enables countries to showcase their culture and heritage.

Also present at the meeting were Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council; Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council for Border Crossing Points Security; and Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai.

President Egils Levits commended the UAE’s accomplishments and developments across various sectors. He described Dubai’s hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai as a resounding success, and praised the emirate’s exceptional organisation of the mega global event. He also extended his congratulations to the UAE on its 50th anniversary, and expressed his best wishes for the nation’s continued prosperity and progress.

During the tour, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed about the Pavilion’s exhibits. Under the theme ‘Connecting the Unconnectable’, the Latvia Pavilion presents the country as a nation of adaptable, creative problem-solvers - a place where technological innovation can coexist with a love for nature and sustainability. The Pavilion embraces opposites, with tableaus examining the country’s tumultuous history, exploring windswept seascapes and deep forests, and revealing how Latvia’s ancient traditions work within its cosmopolitan cities.

 4.8 million visits: Expo 2020 Dubai visit numbers have climbed to 4,766,419 in the period up to 28th November, driven by music, sporting stars and continued strong take-up of the November Weekday Pass.

Jubilee stage played host to a packed week of entertainment, including Kuwaiti singer Abdullah Al-Ruwaished and famed Egyptian singer Mohamed Hamaki, while a formidable all-female line-up delighted with performances from classical music to comedy at the latest Late Nights @ Expo.

Meanwhile, artists from the Accademia Teatro alla Scala were given a standing ovation at a packed-out Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, while Ireland’s Grammy Award-winning Riverdance ended its toe-tapping run with a series of performances, culminating in a Grand Finale performance on the Jubilee Stage. The FIDE World Chess Championship, which launched on 24th November, is attracting a surge of interest from both players and fans. The highlight of the world chess calendar sees Magnus Carlsen, the reigning world champion from Norway, defend his title against the winner of the Candidates Tournament, Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi, at Dubai Exhibition Centre. The tournament runs until 16th December, with $2.25 million in prize money.

A popular day out for families, Expo has plenty of entertainment for younger visitors, with arts and crafts, light shows and live performances. Last Saturday saw the special launch of a new family dining offer, which gives one free kids’ meal with every adult meal at certain Expo eateries during the week.

With Expo’s new Festive Pass unlocking unlimited access to a wonderful winter for just Dhs 95, on sale now until the end of December, visit numbers are expected to keep growing. Highlights will include the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, Christmas festivities and major stars live in concert, such as 15-time Grammy Award-winner Alicia Keys, performing at Al Wasl Plaza on 10th December.

As the largest major global event to be held since the start of the pandemic, Expo 2020 Dubai continues to maintain robust COVID-19 measures, ensuring a safe and exceptional event for all attending. With more than 90 per cent of the UAE population fully vaccinated, Expo 2020 Dubai has required mandatory vaccination of all Expo and International Participant staff, volunteers, contractors and service providers. Visitors ages 18 and above are required to present proof of any vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours. In addition, Expo 2020 Dubai maintains on site sanitisation stations and mandatory face-masks both indoor and outdoor.

Virtual visitation to Expo 2020 Dubai has now reached 23.5 million.

Expo 2020 Dubai runs until 31st March 2022, inviting the world to join a global celebration that will help to shape a better, brighter future for everyone.

Artistic and cultural programme: After their first successful fashion show in October, Partners of the Morocco Pavilion, Maison de l’Artisan hosted their second show in their series of five fashion shows, curated by the top established Moroccan designers which aims to introduce people to the Morocco Pavilion.

The participation of Maison de l’Artisan aims to make discoveries within the Moroccan Pavilion, a living national treasure passed on from generation to generation, a form of life linked to the customs and ancient medinas of Moroccan cities but also an art that is part of the identity, culture and character of each Moroccan.

The second series of fashion shows in the patio of the Morocco Pavilion hosts top designers from the region.

The event highlights and gives visibility to Moroccan handicraft products while simultaneously contributing to the preservation of rare Moroccan craftsmanship mixing it with modernity to make their designs all the more unique.

Morocco’s renowned designers Kacem Sahl, Myriam Bouafi and Mohamed Elarbi Azzouz, also known as Romeo Couture, in partnership with Maison de l’Artisan, showcased Morocco’s handicraft and rare craftsmanship, as they drew inspiration from their origins, experiences, encounters while honouring the traditional caftan by innovatively combining inspirational elements and revolutionary, earthly details.

The objective is to show the various visitors the cultural richness of Moroccan craftsmanship, thousand-year-old know-how that has been able to transform and be valued through contemporary ready-to-wear creations.

With its local production which uses environmentally friendly materials and processes, craftsmanship plays a real role in the sustainable development and economy of the regions of Morocco.

This artistic program is set to show the world the intergenerational, intercultural and eclectic aspects of Moroccan culture and to reflect the image of the Kingdom within the Morocco Pavilion.

After a successful stint at Caftan as a Young Talent in 2015, designer Myriam Bouafi has since become a key figure when it comes to creating traditional dresses. She works on fabrics that are, preferably, plain using flowing materials such as sheet and silk crepe, to allow for unrestricted self-expression and to give free rein to her imagination. Myriam’s displayed her newest collection “Splendor and Diversity” at the fashion show which was inspired by her majestic duchess satin collection, according to her, its “fall” and flow give you the feel of royalty.

Designer Kacem Sahl, has succeeded in imposing himself in the closed world of haute couture with his successful interplays between the traditional caftan and the modern dress. Each year, Kacem innovates a variety of unique belt designs for his creations. In 2009, he made a resin-based belt with inlaid natural flowers. At the Morocco Pavilion, Kacem unveiled his latest collection “Roses of M’gouna”, the designer took inspiration from the Persian civilization, a long-time point of interest for him, with a soft spot for the hanging gardens of Babylon.